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Master
of Science Concentration in Biostatistics
Description The
Master of Science in statistics, Concentration in Biostatistics at San
Diego State University emphasizes statistical methods and applications
in the biological, health, and medical sciences. This would be the appropriate
program for a student who entertains the idea of working in the biotech
or pharmaceutical industry. Local job opportunities are excellent. Students entering the master's program should have three semesters of calculus, one semester of a calculus-based probability course, and one semester of linear algebra. Students should also have working knowledge of a computer programming language. Students lacking some of the above undergraduate background may be admitted conditionally and may make up this coursework during the first year of the program (these courses do not count toward the degree course requirements). Requirements concerning the GRE exam and GPA requirements are the same as for the other SDSU graduate programs. A GRE combined score (quantitative and verbal scores) of 950 and a GPA of 2.85 (3.0 GPA international) are expected. Financial Aid The
Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a limited number of
research and teaching assistantships, applications for which should
include transcripts and two letters of reference, to be submitted to
the Department Chair. Off-campus professional employment may be obtained
through a University Foundation work-study program, administered by
the Placement Center. The Department maintains a web page with further information on admission and financial support. Program Requirements Candidates
must complete 30 units of graduate level and approved upper division
coursework, as described below. Thesis Requirements General requirements for the master's thesis are as described in the graduate bulletin. As defined in the bulletin: A thesis is the written product of a systematic study of a significant problem. It identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and the methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation. The finished product evidences originality, critical and independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, high level of writing competency, and thorough documentation. Students should note that they must be advanced to candidacy before they will be permitted to form an official thesis committee and to enroll in Math 799A. In addition to the university requirements, the departmental requirements are as follows: 1.
The chair of the thesis committee must be a faculty member from the
Division of Statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
Please view complete details regarding SDSU Policy for Service on Master's Thesis Committees. Plan B (non-thesis option): Spring/Fall 2009 Students planning to take the Plan B option have to take at least 2 units of Stat 795, and one unit of Stat 720 or 790 or an additional unit of 795. In addition, the non-thesis option requires a two-part comprehensive examination in lieu of a thesis. Policies and procedures for the Plan B examination are given below. Policies and Procedures for the Plan B examination: Students in the Plan B option must pass a two-part comprehensive examination. Part 1 of the exam will cover theory and methods from core courses including Stat 670A, Stat 670B, Stat 680A, Stat 680B, and Stat 560. This is a four-hour closed-book written exam. Part 2 of the exam is a written report of a data analysis project. Each student will be given a data set and corresponding scientific questions. Students will have one week to complete the data analysis and to produce a written report, not to exceed 7 pages. Collaboration on the data analysis and report writing is not allowed. Any collaboration will be deemed as cheating and result in a failing grade. Theory Exam (part 1) will be given at 1:00-5:00pm on Wednesday before fall semester classes begin each year. Data Analysis Exam (part 2) will be available on the web at 10:00 am on Monday of the 12th week of each spring semester. The written report is due on the following Monday before noon. (For purposes of these exams, the spring break is not counted as a week of the spring semester.) See schedule below. Students should note that they must be advanced to candidacy before they will be permitted to take a two-part comprehensive exam. Students
may sign up for SPRING Data Analysis exam from February
15 to March 1, and for the FALL Theory Exam from
June 15 to July 1. Candidates must choose
two electives for the Theory Exam. Students with concentration in Biostatistics
must choose Stat 680A and Stat 680B for their electives. No registration
will be accepted after the deadline. To
register for exams, email: mathhelp@sciences.sdsu.edu Cancellations should be done before these deadlines as well, or a failing grade will be given. At the time of the exam, each student will be given a random ID number to be used on the exams. Students may take the two parts of the exam in any order. Each part of the exam may be taken by a student at most two times. Spring
2010 Data Analysis Exam: Fall
2010 Theory Exam: Guidelines
for Statistics Theory Exam. Faculty While coursework from other instructors may be counted towards the MS, the core faculty for the program consists of the statistics and biostatistics specialists within the Department. These are as follows: Barbara
Bailey, Jianwei
Chen, Kristen Duncan,
Juanjuan Fan, Richard
Levine, C.D. Lin,
K.J. Lui, Vladimir
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